moneill



UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEErcE.

A. MCNEILL, OFWASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

COMBINED COAL-SCUTTLE AND ASH-SIFTIER.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 20,000, dated April 20, 1858.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARCHIBALD MGNEILL, of the city of Washington, in theDistrict of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement inCoal-Scuttles and Ash- Sifters; and I hereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theannexed drawing, which makes a part of this specification.

In the drawing, Figure l, is a view in perspective of a coal scuttle,closed and otherwise arranged as an ash sifter. Fig. 2, is verticalsection of the same. Fig. 3, is a vertical section, showing the lid, G,and sifting bot-tom, E, removed to change the article to a scuttle only.Fig. 4, is an end view to show the opening for their insertion of thewire or sifting bottom.

My invention consists in so constructing a coal scuttle, that it can beeasily converted into and used as a sifter of coal cinders and ash pan.p

The scuttle A shown in the drawing is of an oblong square form, (but itmay be of any form required) made of sheet iron or other suitablematerial and of any size suitable for convenience.

The mouth of the scuttle does not, as in other scuttles, extend from thetop edge, but is formed by an extension D, of the bottom a, a, scoopshaped piece secured to the bottom, directly above which the opening B,is made inthe side or end, for the discharge of coal or ashes. Thisopening is fitted with a slide c, to close it at pleasure. Each side ofthe scuttle may be fitted with a handle F, by which to carry, shake andempty it, or the ordinary hinged handley may be used.

To change the scuttle to' a sifter,a perforated or screening bottom isplaced within it about half way from the bottom, and a cover or lid G,placed on the top to confine the dust arising from the ashes. Thesifting bottom E is made of wire or sheet iron and is slid horizontallywithin the scuttle through an opening H and supported upon a ledge I,projecting from the inner sides. The screen has a handle I, by which toinsert and withdraw it from the scuttle and also a plate on its endwhich when the screw is in closes the opening.

The burned coal and ashes are placed upon the screening bottom, thecover is' put on and the discharge opening B, closed. The scuttle isthen agitated and. the ashes sifted from the coal cinders, anddepositedv up'on the bottom below, which thus serves the purpose of theash pan. The door C, is then raised and the ashes poured out through theopening B. The screening bottom E is then withdrawn and the coal cindersthus freed from the ashes fall on the bottom of the scuttle and can bedischarged through the same opening. The scuttle can be filled withcoal, to use it as shovel crowding the scoop shaped piece D, of thebottom into the coal will be filled without the use of any otherimplement or taking it up in the hands. Thus in one article combineadvantages and purposes not before known and used, while at the sametime it is rendered as convenient as the best of other constructions.

I do not claim any of the parts herein described separately. But

What I do claim and desire to obtain a patent for, is-

Constructing a coal scuttle A, provided with the extended scoop shaped,piece D, slide C, screen E, and cover G, al] arranged and operatingsubstantially and for the purpose as herein set forth and described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

ARCHIBALD MCNEILL. In the presence of- JOHN CoTTER, GEO. THos. STEWART.

